|
Meet the Rising Brook Ministry Team
The Rising Brook Ministry Team includes both ministers and directors. Ministers are called by the church to ministry in general, although they have specialism. Directors are appointed the church to work in a particular function. Let's meet the team...
| |
Martin Young
Senior Minister and Team Leader
Martin has been a minister at Rising Brook since 1998. He was previously leader of The Bear, a youth church in London and part of Ichthus Christian Fellowship. Martin has a degree in English and Drama, and has experience in acting and directing. He has also worked for Pecan, a charity that helps people from disadvantaged communities into employment. Martin speaks at national and international conferences, and has a leadership role in local projects with other churches. Martin grew up in Stafford and was part of Rising Brook before he went to London. He is married with two children.
|
| |
Sue Down
Administrative Director
Sue has been at Rising Brook since 2000, moving to the Stafford area with her husband's work. She and husband Ken were on the leadership team of our then congregation in Holmcroft. Sue's main role is to help make the wheels of church life turn smoothly! It is partly about admin, but more about helping people to find their way into the heart of church life. If you want to know anything about Rising Brook, Sue is a good place to start! Sue's background is in education as a teacher, and latterly as a headteacher of a Christian school in the East Midlands. Sue and Ken have five grown-up children.
|
| |
Malcolm Egner
Minister with responsibility for teaching, programming and communication
Malcolm trained for the ministry at Spurgeon's College in London where he recently completed a masters degree in theology. He worked for Youth For Christ for seven years before spending ten years in local government in consumer education, business information and training. Malcolm was minister at Somersham Baptist Church before joining the team at Rising Brook. He wrote 'Mission: Possible' a book for church leaders on organising mission and outreach activities, and has also been published in academic journals. His current role involves planning and speaking in our Sunday celebration and other teaching events, as well as looking after this website and Inside Information, along with other publications. He is married with three children, and with his wife has season tickets for the Wolves.
|
| |
Tim Herriott
Operations Director
Tim is an accountant by profession and his role as Operations Director at Rising Brook is part time. Previous to becoming part of the team Tim was treasurer of the church and also of Mid Staffs Youth Net, a local inter-church charity. Tim's role involves looking after the financial, legal, human resource, and policies of the church and of our community projects. Tim also runs his own business providing his expertise to other charities and churches. Tim has been involved in the church's youth and parenting work, as well as in pastoral care. Tim is married with 2 children, and is into sport of all kinds.
|
| |
Caroline N Smith
Minister with responsibility for pastoral care, community projects and international partnerships
Caroline is the most travelled of the team even before she became a minister at the church. Her background is in education, specialising in science (11-18) and special educational needs. She has been headteacher of local primary schools before working in central asia setting up an international school. Caroline is responsible for developing community life within the church and heads up the various pastoral teams providing care for people with different needs. She is trustee of Signposts (Stafford) which runs the Signposts Centre on the Highfields estate. Along with Tim she has oversight of the various community projects that run from the church. Caroline spends 6 weeks of each year visiting projects abroad and speaking at education conferences. Caroline has three grown up children.
|
| |
Ali Summers
Minister with responsibility for discipleship and spiritual growth
Ali also has a background in teaching and has taught history at secondary level. She was brought up in Stafford and met her husband, Dave, while at university. Dave and Ali were part of our then Stone congregation, and became involved in the youth work at Rising Brook serving all the congregations. In 2003, Ali and Dave became ministers with responsibility for youth work at Rising Brook as a job-share. Even before then Ali has sensed God calling her to wider ministry especially in teaching and in the prophetic. Ali moved into her new full-time role in 2008, and is responsible for encouraging people and groups to take their spiritual growth and discipleship seriously, Ali is director of Rising Brook's Leadership and Discipleship School and regularly leads worship. She is married with 2 children.
|
| |
Dave Summers
Minister with responsibility for children, youth and family work
Dave is a science teacher and has been head of science in a local secondary school. Brought up in London, Dave came to the area to study physics and music at Keele University. Part of our Stone congregation, Dave became involved in the youth work at Rising Brook serving all our then congregations. Heading up our youth work, Dave and his wife Ali were called as ministers with responsibility for youth work in 2003. Having discovered a passion and a talent for children's work, Dave was called to full-time ministry in 2008, heading up a new children, youth and families department. Dave is a very talented musician, specialising in percussion, clarinet and saxophone. He is also immensely gifted at circus skills, setting up Vertical Reality, a juggling troupe based at the church. You will often find Dave mountain biking on the Chase. Dave is also married with two children!
|
|
|
|